Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page:
About CDC.gov

We sought to estimate how much the presence of hypertension adds to annual per capita and total expenditures for medication among US adults.

METHODS

The sample included 21,782 civilian noninstitutionalized adults aged ≥18 years who participated in the 2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Hypertension was defined as having a diagnosis of high blood pressure (except during pregnancy) or taking a blood pressure medication. We used a 2-part model to examine all-cause medication expenditure associated with hypertension.

RESULTS

The prevalence of hypertension was 32.2%. Overall, 66.7% of adults purchased prescribed medications, with this proportion higher among hypertensive (93.0%) than normotensive (54.4%) adults (P < 0.001). Hypertensive adults were more likely to have medication expenditures than were normotensive adults (odds ratio (OR) = 6.42; P < 0.001). Among hypertensive adults, those aged ≥45 years were more likely to incur medication expenditure than those aged 18–44 years (OR = 3.00, P < 0.001 for those aged 45–64 years; OR = 5.95, P < 0.001 for those aged ≥65 years), whereas women were 2.91 times as likely as men to have medication spending (P < 0.001). Hispanics were less likely than non-Hispanic whites to have such spending (OR = 0.51; P < 0.001). Among those purchasing medications, the average cost was $1,510 higher among hypertensive persons ($2,337) than normotensive persons ($827). Hypertension-associated expenditures for medication were estimated at $68 billion in the US civilian non-institutionalized population in 2007.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of hypertension among US adults is associated with an increase of all-cause expenditures for medication, with this increase varying across groups by age and sex.

Background : Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Health insurance coverage affects hypertension treatment and control, but limited information is available for US adults with hypertension who are classified as underinsur...

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (U.S.)

Published:

4/25/12

Series:

PCD collection
Preventing chronic disease

Description:

Each manuscript in this collection incorporates data from The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). BRFSS is a state-based system of health surveys that collects information on health risk behaviors, preventive health practices, and hea...

Background : The control rate for hypertension is unacceptably low worldwide, and poor adherence to medication is a primary reason. : Objectives : To evaluate the impact of full coverage for hypertension drugs on adherence to medication, medical cost...

Introduction : This review summarizes the current literature for the prevalence and medical costs of noncommunicable chronic diseases among adult Medicaid beneficiaries to inform future program design. : Methods : The databases MEDLINE and CINAHL wer...

Introduction : This review summarizes the current literature for the prevalence and medical costs of noncommunicable chronic diseases among adult Medicaid beneficiaries to inform future program design. : Methods : The databases MEDLINE and CINAHL wer...